Where It's Located
The Tarawa Kiribati Temple is being constructed in:
Ambo, South Tarawa
Kiribati
The temple site covers approximately 0.8 acres, or 0.3 hectares. It sits directly across from the Kiribati House of Parliament, giving the future temple an unusually prominent location in the capital area.
Getting There
International visitors will generally arrive through Bonriki International Airport, which serves South Tarawa.
Because the temple is still under construction, it is not currently open for temple ordinances or public tours. An open house and dedication date have not yet been announced.
Traveling to Kiribati is considerably more involved than visiting most temple destinations, making this a particularly unique future temple trip.
The First Temple in Kiribati
The Tarawa Kiribati Temple will be the first temple built in Kiribati. It will also be the second temple built in Micronesia, following the Yigo Guam Temple, which was dedicated in 2021.
That makes the temple historically significant not only to Kiribati but to the Church throughout the Pacific.
Temple Announcement
President Russell M. Nelson announced the Tarawa Kiribati Temple on October 4, 2020, during the October 2020 General Conference.
The announcement was especially significant for the Saints of Kiribati because of the enormous distance they had to travel for temple worship.
A Thousand-Mile Journey
Before the Tarawa Temple, Latter-day Saints in Kiribati had to travel more than 1,000 miles, or approximately 1,600 kilometers, to reach the Suva Fiji Temple.
For a nation made up of remote islands and atolls, that journey could be extremely challenging and expensive.
The future Tarawa Temple will bring temple ordinances dramatically closer to home.
The Church in Kiribati
Kiribati has a remarkably large Latter-day Saint population relative to its overall population.
At the time the temple was announced, there were nearly 21,000 Latter-day Saints in the country. They belonged to two stakes and three districts.
That's approximately one-sixth of the country's population, making Kiribati one of the places where Latter-day Saints represent an unusually large portion of the population.
Kiribati's Geography
Kiribati is an island nation in the central Pacific Ocean consisting of 32 atolls and one island.
Approximately half of the country's population lives on Tarawa Atoll, where South Tarawa is located.
The geography makes the announcement of a temple particularly meaningful.
A temple located on Tarawa will be accessible to a large portion of the country's Latter-day Saints without requiring an international trip.
Moroni High School
The Church has operated Moroni High School on Tarawa.
The school is an important part of the Church's history in Kiribati and reflects the longstanding presence of the Church in the country.
The temple will become another major Church facility serving the community.
Temple Site
The temple site was announced on May 19, 2021.
The Church selected a 0.80-acre property in Ambo, South Tarawa, directly across from the Kiribati House of Parliament.
The prominent location gives the temple a highly visible place within the nation's capital.
Groundbreaking
Groundbreaking and site dedication took place on November 2, 2024.
Elder Jeremy R. Jaggi, a General Authority Seventy, presided over the ceremony.
The ceremony was attended by His Excellency Taneti Maamau, President of Kiribati, and First Lady Teiraeng Maamau.
The groundbreaking was also broadcast live to meetinghouses throughout Kiribati, allowing members throughout the country to participate.
A Powerful Groundbreaking Message
Elder Jaggi compared the groundbreaking to planting a giant coconut or breadfruit seed.
He explained that the seed would eventually produce a great harvest for generations.
He also promised that the future temple would provide "great protection from the storms of life."
The imagery is especially fitting for an island nation where storms and the ocean are an important part of everyday life.
Architecture
The planned Tarawa Kiribati Temple will contain approximately 10,000 square feet of floor space.
The temple will be a single-story building with a single attached end spire.
Its relatively compact design is appropriate for both the small temple district and the limited size of the urban site.
A Small Temple With a Big Impact
The 10,000-square-foot temple won't be among the Church's largest temples.
But its importance isn't measured by its size.
For Kiribati's Latter-day Saints, the temple represents the difference between traveling more than 1,000 miles to Fiji and eventually being able to participate in temple ordinances within their own country.
Temple Facilities
The temple is planned to contain:
- One instruction room
- One sealing room
- One baptistry
These facilities will allow the temple to provide the ordinances performed by Latter-day Saints in temples.
Ancillary Facilities
Additional facilities are planned approximately 450 meters west of the temple site.
Plans include a meetinghouse and patron housing facility, although those plans are still in development.
Having patron housing will be especially valuable for members traveling from other islands.
Current Construction
The Tarawa Kiribati Temple is currently under construction.
The latest reported construction status indicates that the modules have been anchored to the foundation and windows have been installed.
This means the project has progressed significantly beyond the initial foundation stage.
Open House and Dedication
An open house and dedication date have not yet been announced.
Once construction is completed, the Church will announce when members of the public can tour the temple.
After dedication, temple access will be reserved for Latter-day Saints who meet the requirements for temple worship.
Exploring South Tarawa
A trip to the Tarawa Kiribati Temple would be unlike almost any other temple trip.
South Tarawa is a narrow chain of islands connected by causeways and surrounded by the Pacific Ocean.
Visitors can experience:
- Tropical beaches
- Lagoons
- Coral reefs
- Local villages
- World War II history
- Traditional Kiribati culture
- Pacific island cuisine
Kiribati's Ocean Environment
The ocean is central to life in Kiribati.
The country's low-lying atolls are surrounded by beautiful turquoise waters and coral reefs.
Visitors interested in snorkeling, fishing, diving, or simply experiencing Pacific island scenery will find plenty of opportunities.
World War II History
Kiribati also has an important connection to World War II.
The Battle of Tarawa took place in 1943 and was one of the major battles of the Pacific campaign.
Remnants of the battle, including bunkers, coastal defenses, and other relics, can still be found around parts of the atoll.
For history enthusiasts, these sites provide a sobering look at the events that took place on the islands.
Local Culture
Kiribati has a distinctive Polynesian and Micronesian cultural heritage.
Traditional dancing, music, fishing, canoeing, and community life remain important parts of the culture.
Visitors should take time to experience local communities rather than treating Tarawa solely as a stop on a temple itinerary.
Kiribati Food
Local cuisine naturally reflects the country's island environment.
Common foods include:
- Fish
- Coconut
- Breadfruit
- Taro
- Rice
- Seafood
Coconut and fresh seafood feature prominently in many traditional dishes.
Why the Tarawa Temple Matters
The Tarawa Kiribati Temple is an excellent example of what temple construction can mean for members living in remote parts of the world.
For decades, Kiribati Saints faced an enormous journey to the Suva Fiji Temple.
The future temple will eliminate that international journey for temple worship and place a temple in the heart of their own country.
A Temple for an Entire Nation
Because such a large portion of Kiribati's population lives on Tarawa Atoll, the temple's location is particularly strategic.
The Church's announcement noted that about half of the country's population lives on Tarawa.
That means the temple will be accessible to a significant percentage of Kiribati's Saints.
The Second Temple in Micronesia
The temple also represents another milestone geographically.
Once completed, it will become the second temple in Micronesia, following the Yigo Guam Temple.
That gives the temple significance beyond the borders of Kiribati.
It is another step in the Church's expansion of temple access throughout the Pacific.
Current Status
The Tarawa Kiribati Temple is currently under construction.
Key milestones include:
- Announcement: October 4, 2020
- Site announced: May 19, 2021
- Groundbreaking: November 2, 2024
- Current status: Under construction
- Open house: Not yet announced
- Dedication: Not yet announced
Final Thoughts
The Tarawa Kiribati Temple is a small temple with an enormous story.
President Russell M. Nelson announced it on October 4, 2020, giving Kiribati's nearly 21,000 Latter-day Saints the promise of a temple in their own country.
For these Saints, that promise is especially meaningful because they had previously needed to travel more than 1,000 miles to the Suva Fiji Temple to participate in temple ordinances.
The temple's 0.8-acre site in Ambo, South Tarawa, sits directly across from the Kiribati House of Parliament. The planned 10,000-square-foot temple will feature a single attached spire, one instruction room, one sealing room, and one baptistry.
Groundbreaking on November 2, 2024, was attended by Kiribati President Taneti Maamau and First Lady Teiraeng Maamau. Elder Jeremy R. Jaggi compared the temple to planting a giant coconut or breadfruit seed that would produce a harvest for generations.
Today, construction has progressed to the point where the temple modules have been anchored to the foundation and windows have been installed.
Once completed, the Tarawa Kiribati Temple will become the first temple in Kiribati and the second in Micronesia. More importantly, it will bring temple worship within reach of thousands of Latter-day Saints who have spent decades making extraordinarily long journeys to attend a temple.
For Latter-day Saint travelers, a future trip to the Tarawa Kiribati Temple could combine temple worship with Pacific island scenery, coral reefs, local Kiribati culture, World War II history, and the remarkable story of a temple that brings sacred ordinances more than a thousand miles closer to home.
Scott & Riah
Brough Made
broughmade.com
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